Knitting, Knitting & More Knitting

Today I had the pleasure of visiting Old Country Yarn Store in Iowa Falls, Iowa. The owners name is Cindy Maroney and she has the neatest yarn store I have seen. She has a wide assortment of yarns and all the items you need to make your favorite item. I was so excited and my mind was just spinning with all the ideas I could make. Knitting is my favorite past time now and I just can't seem to stop.
I bought several different kinds of really cool yarns and some new catalogs for some new patterns. If only I had the time to do them all. I find knitting to be so relaxing and calming. I don't want to put down my project at the end of the day.
Right now I am knitting for my twin grandchildren. They will be 4 in March so I am making them each their own pullover hooded sweater top. I have a boy and girl so I have green camo yarn for Thomas and pink camo yarn for Keagan. I hope when they put them on they will feel the love that grandma put into them as I knit each stitch.
If you ever get a chance visit the unique store in Iowa Falls, Old Country Yarn Store. You will be glad you did.

Which Hurts The Most, doing Taxes or My Octreotide Shot?

Earlier today I posted on Twitter and Facebook that I wasn't sure which was going to hurt the most, getting our taxes done or my cancer shot Octreotide. I am happy to say I am glad our taxes are done and that my shot went really well today.
I get my shot every 3 weeks for the rest of my life. It prevents new cancer from growing. I have already had 4 shots since my surgery in November and this has been the best one. The others were painful and hurt afterwards and today I found out why. I had a different nurse administer the shot, she had me lay down on my side this time and felt on my hip where to give the injection. The other times the nurses just had me lean over and they would do it that way, well that would hurt and I would be in pain for a couple days. I asked her why she did it this way and she told that this is the correct way to do it and the goal is for no pain and not to hit a vein. It did not hurt and I do not feel that I had a shot today. I asked her if I could ask to have it done this way every time and she assured me that I could. So from now on I am going to tell them how I want it done. I didn't know I had this choice until today.
So I guess I have to say the shot didn't hurt and I really don't know how much we will have to pay into taxes yet but I am praying it will be as painless as my shot was today.
On a different subject I got results from the psychologist that evaluated my mother and ran some tests. She has been in the nursing home since November of 2008. She suffered brain damage after a surgery she had. The surgery went fine, but due to lack of oxygen after her surgery she suffered brain damage leaving her unable to be left alone. She went from a vibrant, active woman to someone who cannot take care of herself or remember from on minute to the next what is going on. My sister and I have noticed that in the last few weeks our mother has been getting worse. The results today told us why. The nurse from the nursing home called and I went into visit with them. The psychologist said she has cognitive impairment and it is one of the worse cases of brain damage he has ever seen. She is regressing and thinks she is in her 20's now. That explains to me why the day I went to see her and it was my birthday, I asked her what happened on February 4, 1955. She had no clue. Do you know how it felt to know my mother didn't know my birthday anymore? It broke my heart. I love my mother so much and I miss the mother that I knew who called me or I called her everyday just to say hi.
We never know when we sign those papers in the hospital telling us these things can happen.
So enjoy your parents and love them with all your hearts. I have a different relationship now as a daughter, I am the one along with my sister who is the mother now. She is in a special unit at the nursing home that takes great care of her, 24/7. I do not have to worry about her because she has the best care there is. I am grateful to them all.
Live each day to the fullest and love with all your hearts. My cancer surgery has changed me also. Never will I take life for granted, life if fragile.

Valentine's Day 2010

For me this year every day and every holiday are wonderful. Since I had my cancer surgery in November and have been blessed with good health I am grateful for each and every day of my life. I feel my life started over once I woke up from surgery, it has been like a new beginning for me and I am enjoying life to the fullest.

Today was nothing romantic for Valentine's Day. My husband took me to the Latimer Firemen's Omelet breakfast and that was great. I didn't have to cook and got to visit with so many people that you don't see very much. Good company and good food.

We then went out to Dudley's Truck Stop before church since we had an hour. We had coffee and found more people to spend the morning with. More great conversations and friends.

Next stop was church and we had a great sermon today. Seems like the pastors have eyes in the back of their heads and know just what I need to hear on that Sunday. More visiting and more friends to see. Another great moment in life.

Now onto a wedding reception in Hampton. A good friend and his bride got married during their church service today and then had a reception afterwards. Great food and more people to visit with.

After I was done at the reception I went to the nursing home to visit my mother who has been there for a few months over a year. She suffered brain damage after surgery in 2008. She has since developed Alzheimer's and has been getting a little worse each day. I lost the mother I had before her surgery, she was a vibrant active person in society. Since the brain damage she is now like a 2 year old or less. I no longer have the conversations a mother daughter have. I am the one who takes her by the hand when I am there and watches her with her bizarre behavior. I long for the days when we could visit and laugh. I cherish the moments I am with her but miss her so much. She doesn't even know what is going on anymore. I visit with the women who take care of her, they are like family now because they take care of my mother and do a wonderful job. I don't have to worry about her because she is in good hands.

All the activites are over for the day, but the best part is coming home to my husband who loves me. If I doubted it before my surgery I shouldn't have, he has been so supportive of me and truly loves me. We are making the best of each day we have together. We laugh more, visit more, and enjoy each other more. Life started over for me November 17, 2009 when I woke up from surgery and they told me they got it all. I am blessed.

Happy Valentine's Day.

It's Complicated (My Health Care)

Why should a person have to be concerned about the cost of their health care?

As most of you know I had surgery for cancer in November and if you saw me today you would not know that I had cancer removed and will be taking a special treatment for the rest of my life. I look very healthy and am very healthy now. They got all the cancer and to prevent new cancer from growing I have to take a special injection every 3 weeks for the rest of my life. The drug is a sandostatin drug and it is called Octreotide.

Do you know what this injection costs? Are you ready? $7,723.80 each injection every 3 weeks! I am in shock. My insurance has a $5,000.00 deductible that I have to meet first. None of this is a typo.

I am thankful there is such a drug but does it have to be so expensive? How can the pharmaceutical companies sleep at night knowing that most people cannot afford this and don't have insurance?

I am trying to find some kind of assistance to help me with the $5,000.00 deductible. Does anybody know where a person might go? I do think our Health Care programs need an overhaul, what do you think?